Given our many years of experience in the industry, we are confident that you will benefit from our in-depth knowledge of shipping. Here are our 5 essential tips for shipping from China to USA.
1.. Choosing the right mode of transport
When you are looking for a freight service, you may have a general idea of the mode of transport, which includes sea, air, rail, road and so on.
Although cheaper shipping options exist, there is no such thing as the best way to ship.
Each method has its own conditions of application, advantages and disadvantages
Compare shipping methods first and never go for the cheapest shipping method.
Full container
Container shipping
LCL
Suitable for cargo less than 15 CBM
AIR
A fast delivery method
COURIER
The most convenient way
Figure out the right shipping terms
The terms of carriage, or Incoterms, are the standard contractual terms that define the responsibilities and obligations of the seller and the buyer.
According to Incoterms 2020, published by the International Chamber of Commerce, there are 11 trade terms in total.
You can check the Incoterms table for details of each term.
Of all the shipping terms, there are 4 that are most commonly used in shipping from China to the USA.
EXW
CIF
FOB
DPU
How do I choose an Incoterms term?
There is no such thing as the best Incoterms, only the ones that suit you best.
In fact, the role you play in choosing the right Incoterms is very important.
For example.
FOB shipping is the most commonly used term in the world. It applies to most importers importing from China to the USA.
However, if you are buying from a small supplier, EXW may be the only option, especially as you are still responsible for all costs and risks.
If you are a middleman, you certainly won’t want to deal with CIF. Instead, you will need an appointed FOB agent or EXW shipping in order to keep the shipping blind.
To avoid getting involved in shipping hassles, use the DPU terminology. The problem is that you have no control over the shipment and delays occur.
3. Transit time
International shipping is the game of moving goods from one place to another.
Based on this, it is easy to understand the 3 parts involved: Origin-Shipping-Destination.
When sending from China to the USA, the corresponding transit time is made up of 3 parts.
China export operation time
Sea or air freight time
Import operation time to the USA
How long does it take to get from China to the USA by air?
It depends. The average transit time from China to the USA by air is 7-10 days.
The air freight process is more complicated than you might think.
Whether the order is large or small, it requires a lot of work.
Here is a breakdown of the time.
How long does it take to ship by sea from China to the USA?
Door-to-door container shipping from China to the USA takes about 20-50 days. LCL takes 30-70 days.
Sea freight requires a more complex process and more factors including distance, route, ship schedules, season etc. all affect the time.
How long does it take to get a parcel from China?
This depends on the courier channel. Generally speaking, door-to-door delivery takes 3-5 days.
From China to the US, the four popular courier giant companies DHL, FedEx, UPS and TNT are all in use.
4. Find a reliable Chinese freight forwarder for us
If you want to successfully ship goods from China to the USA. You need to choose a good China freight forwarder.
A freight forwarder is a transport expert who understands the whole transport process and provides you with freight forwarding services. How can you tell the difference?
It’s a strategy with 7 tips.
Principles Description
- Legitimacy_ Shipping safety is the first priority
Verify the necessary business licenses or documents
- Experience_ Of course, you want someone who has a lot of experience in freight forwarding.
It determines the quality of service they will provide.
- Services_ Freight forwarding involves many areas of service.
When you ship a container to the USA, you must use a freight forwarder who specializes in fcl containers, not air freight, lcl or courier.
- Sizes_ Freight forwarders also come in different sizes.
Global giants, medium-sized companies and small freight forwarders often have the advantage of different volumes.
- Price_ 1. Market price.
You don’t have to choose the most expensive price unless your shipment is very urgent and the given proposal can guarantee your time requirements.
- Transparency
A complete shipping proposal must list all the necessary charges and mention the prices of inclusions and exclusions.
If you are looking for a reliable freight forwarding company – TJ China freight can meet all your requirements.
- Ports
There are many ports between China and the USA
Depending on the POL and POD you choose, transport plans and costs can vary considerably.
POLs and PODs must be taken into account when making your transport plan.
So, what is the best port of loading and port of discharge?
Two principles.
Proximity. We usually choose the port closest to the supplier as the port of loading to save inland pick-up costs and the port closest to the delivery location as the port of discharge to reduce delivery costs.
Primary. A basic port means more choices with different sailing schedules, whereas going to a smaller port can cost a lot of money.
